Soltam M-71

Soltam M-71

A deployed M-71
Type Howitzer
Place of origin Israel
Service history
Used by See users
Wars Yom Kippur War
South African Border War
Production history
Designer Soltam Systems
Designed 1974
Manufacturer Soltam
Produced 1975[1]
Variants Soltam M-68
Specifications
Weight 9,200 kg (20,300 lb)
Barrel length 6.045 m (19 ft 10 in) L/39
Crew 8

Caliber 155 mm NATO
Breech horizontal block
Carriage split trail
Elevation -5°/75°
Traverse ±20° from centerline
Muzzle velocity 820 m/s (2,700 ft/s)
Maximum firing range 23.5 km (14.6 mi)

The M-71 is a 155 mm 39 caliber towed howitzer manufactured by Soltam Systems.

Design

The weapon was based on the earlier Soltam M-68 and uses the same recoil system, breech and carriage but had a longer gun barrel (39 calibre versus 33 calibre of M-68). It is fitted with a compressed air-driven rammer to permit rapid and ease of loading at all angles of elevation as well as having a rechargeable battery mounted on the right trail for auxiliary power.[2] It can fire a 43.7 kilograms (96 lb) high-explosive shell up to a maximum range of 23.5 kilometers (14.6 mi) at a muzzle velocity of 820 meters per second (2,700 ft/s).

The Soltam M-71 in travel/towing configuration

Deployment

In addition to Israel, this weapon is in service with Chile,[3] Singapore,[4] Thailand, South Africa, Slovenia and Myanmar. A version of this weapon was developed to mount on a modified Centurion chassis (M-72), but this vehicle never reached production.

Operators

Map of M-71 operators in blue

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Kinard, Jeff. Artillery: An Illustrated History of Its Impact (2007 ed.). ABC-CLIO Publishers. pp. 301–302. ISBN 978-1-85109-561-2.
  2. "Soltam Systems 155 mm M-71 gun-howitzer (Israel)". Jane's Armour and Artillery.
  3. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/m-68.htm
  4. "Singapore artillery pieces". United States, Library Of Congress.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 2014-11-20.
  6. Solmerin, Florante (23 June 2013). "Army eyes hi-tech mounted artillery". Manila Standard Today. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  7. G6 L45 self-propelled towed gun-howitzer
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